HOWEVER much Southend United need the points to sustain their promotion push, midfielder Luke Guttridge insists the pressure will be off when they play at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Steve Tilson's side want to prove their defeat at home to Swansea last Saturday was merely a blip - but if the stakes are high for them the former Cambridge man reckons a big City Ground crowd will make it even tougher for Forest.

"There will be a big crowd and the emphasis will be on them to come out and attack us," he said.

"That could play into our hands, especially if we can frustrate them."